Drapery attachment for dressing tables or vanities



Aug. 7, 1951 .s. s. COPLON 2,563,310

DRAPERY ATTACHMENT FOR DRESSING TABLES OR VANITIES Filed April 24, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 {1. 'hp s]. wdh,

s. s. COPLON 2,563,310

DRAPERY ATTACHMENT FOR DRESSING TABLES OR VANITIES Aug. 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1946 S. S. COPLON Aug. 7, 1951 DRAPERY ATTACHMENT FOR. DRESSING TABLES OR VANITIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 24, 1946 Aug. 7, 1951 s. s. COPLON DRAPERY ATTACHMENT FOR DRESSING TABLES OR VANITIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 24, 1946 47 48 4 0 46 7 1 Tu-u lIli Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES FiKT-ENT OF F ICE 'DR'APERY ATTACHMENT FOR DRESSING TABLES OR VANITIES 10 Claims. 1 invention relates to means for draping dressingta'bles or vanities.

The applicationofdraperies to articlesof furniture as well as room fixtures is now invogue andzdraperies applied to vanity or dress-ingtables are now considered highly desirable. The use of such embellishment on dressing tables or vanities has become so. general that highly polished and expensive tables are completely covered at the front, sides'an'd top so that no portion of theoriginalia-rticle of furniture isex'posed to view.

The application of drapery to dressin tables or-vanities of the kindlast referred to as now effected, necessitates nailing, screwing or otherwise fastening the frame supportingthedraperyto finished portions of? a vanityor dressingtable, which results in marring or damaging the finish of the table so. that it cannot well be used again without repairs andre'finishing, should there be a desire on the part ofthe owner to dispense with the. drapery, or should the fashion for draping sucharticlesspass out.

It is one of the objects of my invention toprovide; drapery to a dressing or vanity table so that no portion'of the finished portion of the table will becomejmarred, scratched or injuredin' any manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a drapery-supporting frame which is-so applied to -a dressing table or vanity that the only means of attachmenttheretois at the unfinished rear face of the table or vanity and so that a rigid attachment is provided'which cannot easily be moved from its appliedposition and-cause it to-rub or scrape against the finished-surfaces of the table Orvanity;

A further-object of my invention is to so construct-the attachment that it can be applied to articles ofifurniture of different lengths and also of different depths.

A still further object-of my invention is toprovideanattachment'of the kind mentioned which is adjustable to enable the same .to be lengthened or shortened, as required, in order to properly fit the, same'to a dressing table or vanity, or other articles of furniture;

With the above: and other objects in view to appear hereinafter, my. invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in. the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed'out irr-the' subj oined 'clairns;

-In'the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of adressing or-vanity table illustrating a common type of table-to which my "invention is adapted to be-applied.

Fig. 2 is an upper elevation of the dressing or vanity table showing the front portion of the mirror broken away and-the drapery attachment'applied to the table or vanity.

Fig. dis a top plan view of the dressing table or vanity with the mirror omittedand-showing the drapery-supporting frame applied thereto.

Figh l is a longitudinal section takenon line l4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line and having a supplemental top member fastened to the frame illustrated in Fig: 3.

Fig. 5 is -a transverse section taken .Online .5-5, Fig. 3, and, as in Fig. 4, having the supplemental top:shown'applied thereto.

Fig. 6' is a perspective view of the drapery-supportingsfra'me.

Fig. '7 is a rear view of one end portion of the drapery-supporting frame with its; supplemental top in placeand showing the mannerof fastening the frame to the rear unfinished face of the .dressing-table or vanity.

Fig. 8 is an'enla'rged top plan view showing one corner of the drapery-supporting frame, a p01.- tion .of thesupplemental top applied thereto and the adjacent portion of the dressing table or vanity top.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation showing onecornerof the drapery-supporting.frame and the mannerof applying the supplemental top thereto.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken online l0l0, Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a section taken online- I'IH, Figf8, on areduced scale.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section taken'on line l2-l 2., Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 13 is atop. plan view of a modified. form-of my invention, showing the drapery-supporting frame. applied to'a dressing table orrvanity; dressingtable or vanity being shown in'plan view.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section on an;enlarged scale taken on line ldl4, Fig. 13,- lookingsinithe direction of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section. on an enlarged scale-taken on line l5-'-I5,.Fig. 13, looking in:.the

direction .of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 16 isan enlarged transverse section taken on line l6-l6,.Fig. 13, lookingin' the: direction of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. l'lisan enlarged transverse section, taken on line l'l-l1, Fig. 13, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 18 is a detail'view'showing the manner of retaining the hingedfront arm of the drapery- 3 supporting frame against the dressing table or vanity.

The dressin table or vanity shown, designated by the numeral !9, has a vertical tier of drawers at each end and a knee-hole space 2i between the tiers of drawers. In this knee-hole space a shelf 22 is shown and fastened to the top of the table is a mirror 23 which is oftentimes used separately and hung on a wall above the table.

Dressing tables, under which term, when used hereinafter, I include vanities, other articles of furniture and objects of various kinds capable of having my drapery attachment applied thereto are of various types and vary in length, and oftentimes in depth. In plan view they also vary in outline, but in all instances, when draped, the front and sides or ends are completely covered with drapery material and the top of the table covered with a supplemental top or top-piece in the form of a mirror, sheet of ply wood or other flat material. When the supplemental top is constructed of opaque material, it is highl finished to provide an attractive surface.

As now applied, the drapery at the sides or ends of a dressing table is tacked directly to the table, while at the front two hinged draperysupporting arms are utilized, which are adapted to swing against the table or be swung forwardly and laterally so as to expose the front of the table and render the drawers thereof accessible. Such swinging arms, in the form now used, are either part of an unfinished or unpolished and inexpensive dressing table; constitute a part of a drapery-supporting frame attached to a finished and expensive dressing table in a manner to damage and render the same unsuitable for use should it be desired to dispense with the drapery; or they are arms attached to a finished portion of the dressing table at its front corners and the drapery when continued around the ends or sides 1 of the table are tacked directly to the latter in a manner to mar or otherwise damage its finish.

the table in the manner intended, removal of the screws or other fastening means from the rear of the table will enable the entire frame and the drapery depending therefrom to be set aside for use at any future time, thus accommodating the changing whims of the user of the table.

The attachment includes a frame 24, which I term a drapery-supporting frame and which comprises transverse side or end bars 25, longitudinal connector bars or slats 26 and pivotally attached front arms 2?, all of said bars and the arms 21' being preferably constructed of wood,

planed but unfinished. The side or end bars are adapted to lie against the upper ends of the sides or ends of the dressing table, as clearly :shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and where the top of the table overhangs the sides or ends, said bars 25 lie against the side or end edges of said top. These .bars are normally of a length to conform to the depth of the largest size dressing table, as indicated by the dotted end extensions 23, in Fig. 3. They are notched at spaced apart regions, as

shown at 29, to receive the ends of the connector bars or slats 25, which ends are reduced in thickness, as at 38, and these reduced end portions are clamped to the side or end bars 25 by metallic straps 3! which are countersunk into the tops of said side or end bars and fastened thereto by screws 32 at opposite sides of th bars or slats 26. Said metallic straps bear firmly against the upper surfaces of the reduced end portions of the connector bars or slats 25 so that relative movement of the side or end bars 25 and the bars or slats 25 cannot take place.

It is to be noted that the upper surfaces of the metallic straps 3| are flush with the upper surfaces of the side or end bars 25 for a purpose to appear hereinafter, and it is also to be noted that the connector bars or slats 26 are normally of a length to fit the longest dressing table now being marketed and consequently, on a table of smaller size, the reduced portions at one end of said bars or slats 23 are of greater length than at the other end and extend a distance outwardly from the side or end bars 25, as indicated by dotted lines 33 in Fig. 6.

When the side or end bars 25 extend rearwardly beyond the rear face of the dressing table to which the frame 24 is to be applied, such rear end portions are sawed off flush with the rear unfinished surface of the table and when the frame is adjusted to the length of the table and the connector bars or slats 2-5 extend outwardly, as indicated by said dotted lines 33, these extending portions are sawed away before or after clamping said bars or slats 2G to the adjacent side or end bar 25.

It is within the province of my invention to fasten the connector bars or slats 26 to or into the side or end bars 25 in any approved manner other than that herein described, but I prefer a fastening of such parts so that the upper surfaces of said bars or slats 26 are, in the main, flush with the upper edges of the side or end bars 25.

The parts of the frame thus far described are not only prepared or originally designed for larger than ordinary size dressing tables, but they are also so organized that they fit, under adjustment, any size table. The frame may, therefore, be considered adjustable so that the side or end bars 25 may be movable relatively to conform in spacing to the length of the table on which the frame is to be used.

Fasteners 34 are secured to the rear ends of the side or end bars 25 for the purpose of fastening the frame to the dressing table and these fasteners are in the form of metallic plates, each having arms disposed at an angle to each other; one arm of each fastener covering the end of a side or end bar and the other arm extending inwardly therefrom and lying against the rear unfinished face of the table. Screws 35 are passed through these arms and secure the frame to the table so that movement of the latter is prevented in the direction of the depth of the table, while the longitudinal connector bars or slats 25 lie upon the table top and, when adjusted and fastened to the side or end bars 25, prevent movement of the frame in the direction of the length of the table. Thus the frame is given a solid support on the table top.

As hereinbefore stated, the front ends of the side or end bars 25 have the arms 2'! pivotally connected thereto, both the side or end bars and the hinged or pivoted front arms 21 being vertically notched, as at 36, to receive the leaves of '5 hinges 31 held therein by means of screwsdil passed through theleaves-bythreading thescrews into the side or end-members-25 and intothe front bars 23. 'Inorder that-the front-arms 2.1 are normally disposed at a right angle to the side or end bars 25, said bars and arms are beveled-inwardly from-the notchestherein. The hingedor pivoted frontarms are normally ofa length to approximately equal one-half? the length'ofthe largestsdressing table onw hichathe draperyframe may be used and, therefore, for tables of less -lengthpthe freeends of these bars arecut away the-required distance sothat when swung inwardly against the table, they are brought intoalinement, as celarly shown in Fig. 3. These hinged r pivoted arms havetheir upper edges 'flush with the upper edge of' the side or-endbars-id and with-the upper faces :of the longitudinal connector bars or slats fi'land each-arm 2:7 has-an upstanding flange fia along its front edge. The upstanding flanges ofthe two alined hinged or pivoted arms-extend upwardly beyond all other parts of the drapery-supporting frame and-a finishing or supplemental topAflis placed upon said frame and has its front edgein contact with the inner faces of said upstanding This finishing or supplemental top is of a size to conform to-thelength' and depth of the drapery-supporting frame so that-itsen'd' or side edges are flush with the outer sides'of the side orend bars 25 and its rear edge flush or even or substantially even with the rear unfinishedface of the table.

In some instances I prefer that this finishing or supplemental table top is an image-reflecting top in the formof a mirror, completely: concealing the top of all parts constituting the draperysupporting frame when the drapery'is applied thereto, excepting only the upper edges of the upstanding fl'anges 39-formed on-the-hinged or pivoted arms 27, which edges-may be stained or therefrom and conceal the sides or ends'and the front. of the dressing table; as illustrated in a generaLway'inFig. 2, and for this purpose two sections or lengths of material may be used; each length extending from the rear endof each side or end bar 25' along the same and thence across the front of the table to the center or approximate center ofthe same, terminating at .the'opposing free ends of the hinged or pivoted arms .21. These drapery sections are'tacked or otherwise secured to :the hinged or pivoted front armslland to the side or end bars-25, or if desired to the end or sideedges of the supplemental tabletop.

The hinged or pivoted front drapery-supporting arms are held against the front of the dressing table .by spring fasteners 43,:as clearly shown in Fig. ,18, or by other suitable means, whereby upon pulling outwardlythe arms may bedisengaged from .thetable or by forcing the arms toward the table the parts of the fasteners will be connected and the arms maintained in alinement and in opposed relation.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 to 17, the longitudinal connector bars or slats 26 arecOnstructedof twotelescopic sections or members" #44 ,245; Onesection or member: of each :connector bar oreslat extending inwardly. from: each; side or end 'barl25 andbeing secured'to thelattenin the manner. describediwith reference to thelongie 'tudinal connector bars'lor slats shownin preferred construction; so that .the upper faces .of .thezbiars orsIats, at least for audistanceinwardly from the side or end bars, are flush with the upper edges-of-thelatter. The sections or members 44, d5 .havetheirinner end portions reduced in thickness, as .atlib, and held edge. to edge by tiestraps 41 arranged in:pairs.on eachv longitudinalconnectorbar; or slat; one tie. strap being. fastened at one endto. one of-the sections or members, as shown at 48, and theother. to the other section or member, as atMl. The unfastened end of each tie strap is bent downwardly, as at 50, to, lie against the outeredge of the section ormemberit overlies in unfastened condition, thus, the two sections or, members of each connector bar or slat are tied together and arranged to move longitudinally .with respect to each other so as to lengthen or shorten the drapery-supporting frame.

It wilhbe apparent that the construction of the frame illustrated .in this. modification provides greater adjustmentthan in the construction disclosed inwhat I consider the preferred form of my invention, and no severing of any portioneof thelongitudinal connector. members is required, as may at timesbe found necessary in the preferred construction, depending. on. the length of the vanity or dressing table to which the frame is to .be applied.

I prefer to-construct the tie straps A! of-material that will, when combinedwith the thickness at the reduced inner end portions offthe connector bar sections, equal the thickness of said connector bars along the portions-extending inwardly from the si'deor endbars-ZE; thus, when the finishing orsupplementaltop is applied to .theframe 2. 5, it will have suflicientbearing or support to prevent sagging, or in the event ofja mirror being used as thetop, to prevent breaking. of the same-under weight that maybe carried thereby.

From the foregoing, it .willbe apparent that the supplemental table top has, in both my preferred construction and in the modificationdescribed, solid bearing on the side .or end bars 25 and at least along the major portions of the lengths of the connector bars- 26, and also at its front edge along thehinged or pivoted front arms 21.

It will also be apparent that the several parts of the supporting frame may be stamped from sheet metal, or that any other suitable material may be used to form said frame in whole, or part; and that'by the term dressing table used in the c1aims,'I include an article of furniture-having its usually exposed surfaces stained, varnished and/or otherwisefinished in a condition for use; al'sothat in .its broader aspect the term dressing table may be considered a foundation orsupport for my improved drapery attachment and that therefore any suitable foundation or support, even thoughother than a dressing table or the like and regardless of its construction or roughness may serve to sham an article of furniture, such asaIVanity, dressing table or. the like.

Therefore, where in this specification and in the appended claims, the term dressing table is used, it is not to be construed in a restrictive sense-since my-invention'may be applied'to desks, sewing machines, and otherarticlespf furniture and house machines of various kinds, also to boxes, crates and the like, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, even though this invention is primarily designed for use in connection with an article of furniture having its front, ends or sides and its top finished for use in such form.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Drapery attachment for a support to conceal the top, front and sides of the latter, comprising a drapery-supporting frame having side members bearing against the upper ends of opposite sides of the support, connector members connecting said side members together and lying on the top of the support, arms pivotally connected to the front ends of said side members and normally swung inwardly against the front of the support, a fiat supplemental top applied to said frame to overlie the top of said support, and drapery fastened to and depending from said side members and said pivoted arms.

2. Drapery attachment for covering the top of an object and concealing the front and sides thereof, comprising a drapery-supporting frame having side bars lying against the upper ends of the sides of the object and extending upwardly above the level of the upper surface of the latter, connector bars connecting said side bars together and having their upper faces flush with the upper edges of said side bars, arms pivotally connected to the front ends of said side bars and having thir upper edges flush with the upper edges of the latter, said arms being normally swung against the front of said object or forwardly and laterally to expose the front of said object, said pivotally-connected arms having upstanding flanges along their front portions, means to fasten the rear ends of said side bars to the rear face of said object, a supplemental top resting upon said side bars, said connector bars and said pivotally-connected arms, and having its front edge in contact with the inner faces of the upstanding flanges of said pivotally-connected arms when the latter are swung inwardly, and drapery fastened to said side bars and said arms and depending therefrom.

3. The combination with a dressing table or the like having a finished front and an unfinished rear face, of a drapery-supporting frame having side bars bearing against the upper ends of the sides of the table and extending above the level of the surface of the top of the latter, connector bars secured at corresponding ends to one of said side bars and having fixed connection at one of their ends with one of said side bars and means r for adjustable connection at their opposite ends with the other side bar to permit of sizing the length of the frame to conform to tables of different lengths, arms connected pivotally to the front ends of said side bars and normally swung against the front of the table, means to secure the rear ends of said side bars to the unfinished rear face of said table to fasten the frame to the latter, a supplemental top applied to said frame to cover the latter and the top of said table, and

said table, connector members having corresponding ends connected to one of said side bars and having portions at their opposite ends reduced in thickness and fitted to the other side bar to permit adjustment of said last-mentioned side bar along said connector members for lengthening or shortening said frame to conform to the length of the table, said connector members being of a length to conform to the maximum length of a dressing table and designed to have any projecting portions of their reduced ends severed so that said connector members conform in length to the length of dressing tables of less than maximum length to which said frame may be applied, said last-mentioned side bar including means to securely fasten the reduced ends of said connector members thereto after adjustment thereon to conform to the length of the table to which said frame is applied, means fastening said frame to the rear unfinished face of said table only, arms pivotally connected to the front ends of said side bars, a supplemental table top applied to said frame to cover the top of the latter and the top of said table and drapery sections applied to the side bars and the pivotally-connected arms of said frame, each drapery section being secured to a side bar and to the arm pivotally connected thereto so that upon swinging said arms forwardly and laterally the front of the table will be exposed to view.

5. Drapery attachment for covering the top, sides and front of an object capable of serving as a draped article of furniture when so covered;

said attachment comprising a frame having transverse side members, longitudinal slats arranged in pairs edge to edge and having their outer ends secured to said side members, a tie strap secured to each of said slats and having means to retain the other of said pair of slats in sliding contact therewith, arms pivotally connected to the front ends of said side members and normally disposed in alinement with their free outer ends separated, a supplemental top covering said frame, and drapery material applied to said frame in two sections, each section being attached to a side member and to the arm pivotally connected to the front end of said side member.

6. Drapery attachment for covering the top, sides and front of an object capable of serving as a draped article of furniture when so covered, said attachment comprising a frame having transverse side members and two longitudinal connector members connected at opposite ends to said side members and holding the latter in spaced-apart relation, each longitudinal connector member comprising two slats arranged in contact side by side along their inner portions and having their upper faces flush with the upper edges of said side members, each of said slats of each connector member being reduced in thickness along its inner portion and having a tie strap secured thereto detachably overlying the other slat of said connector member, the overlying of each tie strap terminating in a downwardly bent portion in contact with the outer edge of said other slat, arms pivotally secured to the front ends of said side members, a supplemental top covering said frame, and a piece of drapery material fastened to each side member and the arms pivotally connected therewith and depending therefrom.

'7. Drapery attachment for a dressing table or the like, comprising a frame having side members and connector members connecting said side members to hold the latter in contact with the upper ends of opposite sides of the table, the front end of each side member being vertically slotted, a hinge for each side member having one of its leaves entered and secured in the slot of said side member, arms normally disposed in front of the table in opposed relation and having corresponding ends vertically slotted to receive the other leaves of said hinges, means to secure said last-mentioned leaves in the slots of said arms to pivotally connect said arms to said side members, a supplemental top applied to said frame, means for securing said frame to the rear face of the table, and drapery material applied to said side members and said pivoted arms in sections to cause the material to separate and swing forwardly and outwardly with said pivoted arms so as to expose the front of said table and to enable the user to be seated between the arms when so swung.

8. An attachment for applying drapery to an article of furniture, comprising a frame having side members disposed alongside the sides of said article of furniture and connector members connecting said side members together and lying on the top of the article of furniture, arms pivotally connected to said frame at the front corners thereof and swung in alinement with each other at the front of said article of furniture, a supplemental top applied to said frame to overlie and cover the top of said article of furniture and drapery fastened to said side members and said pivoted arms and depending therefrom, said frame being secured in place on said article of furniture at the rear of the latter only.

9. Drapery attachment for covering the top and sides of a structure or structures serving as or simulating an article of furniture, comprising a frame having parallel spaced-apart side members positioned at opposite sides of said structure and connector bars having opposite ends secured to said side members and resting upon the top of said structure, arms pivotally connected to the front ends of said side members and normally swung inwardly toward the front of said structure, a supplemental top applied to said frame to overlie and cover said connector bars, at least a portion of said side members and the top of said structure when the said attachment is applied to said structure and drapery applied to said side members and said pivoted arms and hanging therefrom.

10. Drapery attachment for a dressing table or the like, comprising a drapery-supporting frame adapted to rest upon the top of the table, arms pivotally connected to the front corners of the frame and normally adapted to be disposed against the front of the table, means to secure the frame to the table at the rear face of the latter only and drapery material fastened to and depending from the sides of said frame and said pivoted arms.

SHERMAN S. COPLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Weiss Aug. 6, 1946 

